There's been so much weirdness in my world lately and tonight really just took the cake. Tonight has clearly demonstrated that the hand of fate can step in and guide people to certain places... to be there at certain times.
It's almost 4:00 and I just got out of the shower. The events of tonight left me feeling very needful of being clean, and in need of the solace one can only find in a shower.
My evening didn't start off too much out of the ordinary. Shortly before I left work though, I read an article on a local news site about three people (which has now been updated to four people) that had been arrested in a possible assassination plot against Barack Obama. I didn't pay that much attention to it because I already knew the nuts would be coming out for the DNC (which by the way, if you take a drive through Denver you'd think DNC stood for DoNut Convention due to all the cops) but one of those arrested caught my attention - Tharin Gartrell. Through the local DJ scene and also a place I used to throw a club night, I knew a DJ that went by Tharin Roberts - could they be one in the same? Eh, at the time it was of little concern to me because I had to go meet up with the male half of my family for a late birthday celebration at Olive Garden. (The bday thing was pretty neat, but that's not why I'm writing).
I got home from the birthday shindig (not sure I should use that word to describe it) and of course, I immediately hop my happy ass online. After tooling around the usual sites, I decided to visit back to the local news site - and with the story I had read earlier was a picture of the DJ I know as Tharin Roberts - it WAS him that was arrested. As I was texting some friends that also knew him, they updated the story with more information and a quote from the bar/club owner where I used to throw my night. The guy is from Latin America and was basically commenting that he would find it odd that anyone would think Tharin didn't like non-whites (the news is speculating that him and his cohorts have ties to white supremecist group(s). http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=98343&catid=188
I got the wild idea to go down to the bar and talk with Victor (the owner) and also invited my friend Cas down, since her and I had been talking about getting together for a beer or two sometime coming up anyway. We both get there about the same time and are about to walk in when Cas got a call from her friend that another friend of her's had shot herself in her friend's apartment... Cas was obviously VERY upset (dropped her phone, almost fell over, etc) and asked me to take her to her friend's apartment (from now on, the friend with the apartment will be referred to as D). I help her over to my car and we head towards D's apartment.
When we get there, we find D sitting in the back of a squad car... (there were about 6 cop cars there at that time) - I had nowhere to park so I had to drop Cas, find a spot to park, then walk back over to D's street. By the time I got back, Cas had talked with the cop in the driver seat of the squad car - evidently they were planning on taking D down to the station because he was under investigation for homicide. Cas was confident that there was no way that could've happened because she had been in touch with D all day (no opportunity), and evidently she also knew how severely depressed the friend that killed herself (I'll refer to her as A) had been for at least two weeks.
A couple more of Cas/A/D's friends show up to find out what's going on. They were talking and I guess that A had moved out of where she was living and was staying with D because of some shit that went down at A's old roomie's place (I won't go into the details). A's old roomie wasn't too happy and evidently left a hate note on D's door (for A) that was quite vulgar and threatening. So, theories were abound: did D kill A, did A's old roomie kill A, or did A decide to take her own life? Being that I don't really know any of them other than Cas (have met D on several occasions but don't really know him and had only met A maybe once or twice and didn't know her at all) there was no means of me passing judgement on anyone involved.
After taking statements from D, Cas, and one of D's neighbors, the cops finally decided that it was suicide. I guess (based on one of the detective's statements) that it was pretty evident as such, but they were doing due dilligence to ensure their findings were accurate. Even after this and being told D would be released to leave withCas and I (and a friend of D and A's that had stuck around and was REAL upset) we sat around for three hours waiting for the detectives to wrap everything up and for the "body removal services" to come take A away (great name for it huh? the detective really was trying to be sensitive when he expressed it as such though). Finally someone was able to go in and grab D's medicine and clothes, etc so Cas, D and the other friend could all go back to her place. Cas had said earlier she didn't want to do it (she has a keen sixth sense and she had a feeling she couldn't deal with the vibes she'd get from the place) and no one was going to let D or his other friend go in there. I volunteered... but ended up going with Cas instead of going solo. I didn't really have much say in the matter, although I really wish I had not let Cas go in the bedroom where A did it... but we both went in there and I did my best to obstruct Cas' view and to get things from the... problem area.. so she wouldn't have to. I know it was hard for her and will be for a long time... it's going to take me awhile to get the scene out of my head. It's just not something you ever expect to have to see/deal with. After we gathered all of D's desired things we headed outside to meet D and his friend and head towards Cas' car (except D was driving himself straight to Cas') where we had left it earlier in the night.. From there I headed home, being sure to confirm Cas' arrival at her place (and on my way home I got to see Federal Denver Mint cops chatting in the middle of the road along with about 5000 other police cars lining various streets and plenty of uniform police officers walking the streets).
The entire drive home I knew there was one thing I needed more than anything, and that was a shower. Even after the shower I almost feel like death is clinging to me. It's not really a scent anymore, it's more like a feeling. But at least taking the shower allowed me to gather my thoughts, at least in the slightest. The whole thing has really made me realize how fate can bring people together (and a whole lot more) so that everyone can make the best out of a bad situation. If it weren't for the article about Tharin I wouldn't have thought about Kazmos or asking Cas to meet me there. If she hadn't met me there, she would've been with D when he discovered A... or if not, she would've been at her house which would've been too far for her to drive from to get to D's with the condition she was in. If I hadn't been at D's with Cas and D's friend, I think both Cas and D's friend probably would've lost it completely. If I hadn't been with them, well who knows what fate I could've suffered... but there was a reason for everything that happened tonight, very rarely do you see the finger of fate touch down so clearly.
I worry about Cas, D, and D's friend... but more for D and his friend than Cas, because I'm confident she could never make such a selfish decision... but if something happens to the other two it could conceivably be too much for her. I wish there was more I could do at this point.. but I think the three of them being together will hopefully help bring them through this and help them keep their heads up long enough that the empty feelings A left behind can be filled by something/someone and keep them from making any rash decisions.
I have to work in less than four hours but have a feeling that I won't sleep a wink, unless exhaustion gets me over the hump into sleepdom. I'm not really concerned about not sleeping or work, just more so hoping that I can wrangle my thoughts long enough to keep my own sanity. Tonight was definitely one for the books though...
hah, and here as I am about to wrap up, the EAS (emergency alert system) comes on with an Amber Alert. Abducted 5 year old, sounds like she was taken by her father? Sigh... I'm going to bed before there's any more shit to fill this night.
Is the amount of my department getting laid off between now and the end of August. In total, five of the ten people who are currently here are being let go either at the end of this month or the end of August. I am, I guess, fortunate not to be included in that number.
I feel some guilt that I am being picked to stay while others are being let go. Out of the list of people, here is who we are losing:
Nicole - Media Supervisor - recently hired (in the last 6 months) twin sister of our Associate Media Director, Natalie. She and her husband just recently started the paperwork to purchase a new house and also have a one-year old daughter.
Linda - Senior Media Planner/Buyer - she's been here 2 - 2.5 years. She is who I was reporting to directly for the client I worked on. However, shes' been out on maternity leave for the last couple of months... we're not sure if she's coming back for a week before she's let go, but her last day, per the company, will be 7/31.
Regina - freelance Senior Media Buyer - she has been helping us with our media buys for the last few months while Linda has been on maternity leave (and also while Natalie was on maternity leave). While she's not an official member of our department, losing her will still have its impact on those who are left behind. I think her last day will be 7/31.
Haley - Assistant Media Planner/Buyer - Haley is my assistant that helps me with my accounts (and she also helps some other the people in the department as well. I had a good feeling she would be let go since I lost my assistant the last time we had layoffs. She does a pretty good job, but spends just as much time goofing around (if not more) than I do... which is something that's always kinda bothered me. Either way I'll be sad to see her and her over-emotional self go.
Robbie - Assistant Media Planner/Buyer - Robbie is our other assistant. To be honest, I figured we would only lose one assistant during layoffs, but we're actually losing both. Haley will be gone at the end of July and Robbie will be here until the end of August. Robbie didn't impact my work much directly, but with him gone there may be responsibilities of his that I'll have to pick up.
I know I should be thankful that I still have a job, especially with the way the economy is. However, I am really concerned of what losing all these people is going to do to my work load. I imagined we would lose 2-3 people to layoffs - not 5! Out of the five, two of them are the #1/#2 in the department - which means those of us below will have to handle all the bitch work that we've had assistants for and also handle the assistant work the Director and Associate Director had the assistants handling. Really makes me nervous - I don't want to be working 15 hour shifts day in and day out - not to mention probably having to do weekend work as well. I am supposed to go to a show this Saturday and I'm already considering canceling so I can come in and catch up on some stuff before everyone leaves. It just is not going to be pleasant.
On another note, I have some possibly exciting news... but I'm going to hold off from saying anything until I know more about it. But it could definitely bring light to the entire situation mentioned above.
While I didn't know Eddie very well on a personal level, I would see him out at almost every single event I've been to over the last 3+ years... probably longer than that though but wasn't aware of him much until I had met his acquaintance. The man was a dancing maniac, a lady's man, and the life of the party. He wasn't necessarily the type that I could ever see myself relating to closely, but knowing how deeply he touched so many of my friends and also knowing how great it was to say what's up to him every time I saw him... I know that I'll miss his presence in the scene.
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BENNETT, EDWARD Edward "Eddie" Angelo Bennett, 25, of Denver, passed away June 15, 2008. Son of Frank and Carla Bennett; brother of Heather (Larry) Reeder, Rachel (Chris) Barnes, and Sean Bennett. Also survived by wife Candice Clark and by two nephews and a niece, as well as many other relatives and friends. Service: Saturday, June 21, 10am, First Mennonite Church, 430 West 9th Ave., Denver. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Colorado CASA, 1490 Lafayette St. Suite 207, Denver, CO 80218 or Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families, P.O. Box 270398 Louisville, CO 80027-0398.
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http://www.rockymountainnews.com/new...e-underground/
JOHNSON: Eddie B. - king of the underground
By Bill Johnson
Friday, June 20, 2008
It was late Tuesday night and they were all standing on the sidewalk,
the overflow spilling onto 15th Street downtown, their still-saddened
faces lit by the soft glow of dozens of flickering candles.
Now and then, someone would walk up to place a small bouquet of flowers
- roses, carnations, a lily or two - in the spaces between the candles,
before bowing their heads and muttering a few words.
Clearly, someone had died. Such memorial displays have become
commonplace these days, mostly at the scene of car wrecks, fatal
shootings and the like. Few, though, are ever assembled at such a late
hour.
What I learned, having pulled over to inquire into it, was there could not have been a better hour scheduled.
This was, I found out, Eddie Bennett's hour, the near-midnight hour of
the day when he and those he surrounded himself with came alive, the
hour when for years he went to work pulling varied groups of young
people together for a long night's revelry.
Very few of those standing in the street that night to mourn Eddie
Bennett were over 30. Make it 25. Some, I'd hazard, were this close to
violating curfew.
Yet there they stood, candle wax oozing and bubbling on the pavement,
more than a few staring up at the tall building that loomed before
them, undoubtedly envisioning the long drop Eddie Bennett took that
night.
Denver police say they still have not figured out whether the
25-year-old man's fall from the top floors of the 42- story Brooks
Tower at 15th and Champa last weekend was intentional or accidental,
only that he was the second person to die from a fall from the landmark
high-rise in three years.
Either way, to those who came to mourn him it does not matter. Eddie
mattered, they said. And his life should not be remarked upon publicly
or remembered solely by the manner in which he died.
"Eddie B." is how they all called him. Oddly, few knew much of his
personal and family life, even Jeremy Hoff, 25, of Denver, who was a
partner with Eddie Bennett for three years in Skywire Production Co., a
lighting and concert promotion firm.
All that he knew of his personal life was that he was adopted when he was young. He never much brought up his family, he said.
No, Eddie Bennett's life, it was explained, was devoted to Denver's
night scene. It was something that I, admittedly - or, for that matter,
anyone else who can remember Ronald Reagan first taking office - could
possibly know little about.
"I met him in the scene," Jeremy Hoff explained. "We got close. We had a tight crew of friends who hung out and ran together."
The scene? Your crew?
"You know," he tried to explain, "the ravers, club kids - all the people who like electronic music and the clubs."
He might have well been speaking Russian. He clearly understood this.
"I'm talking about the electronic party scene," Jeremy Hoff said
slowly. "Eddie was the king of it, who made people, whether they were
15 or 50 years old, a part of that world, a man who was accepting of
all races, all types of people."
If you went to a club, an underground party, a rave, well, you would immediately know Eddie Bennett, he said.
"He would walk into a room full of people and put a smile on everyone's
face," Eric Soderlund, 20, explained. "He was an artist, a very unique
person, a guy who touched a lot of lives."
This was apparent in the sea of faces that swarmed 15th Street Tuesday
night: white kids, black, Hispanic and Asian. To them, those who
frequented this unfamiliar-to-a-middle-aged-man world with its
night-owl hours and language, he was a welcoming, pied-piper king.
"Look, you are never going to understand," Leah Hlewko finally said.
Eighteen years old, she had worked as a go-go dancer at a variety of
events Eddie Bennett staged.
"He was the glue that kept the whole crew together," she explained. "He
united so many people who you would think would never party or even be
seen together. Because of him, I have met a million people I would
never have met, ever."
He was visiting a friend that night, Jeremy Hoff said softly.
"Did he kill himself? That's the rumor going around. And yeah, he had his problems, here and there," he said.
What he and everyone else has heard, he said, is that Eddie knocked on
the door of his friend's home on the 39th floor, that when he was let
in, he eased through and dived off the balcony.
"To the people close to him, who knew him, that story is skeptical,"
Jeremy Hoff said. "We're just not sure. It would make me feel better
knowing, but that story sounds just too simple."
As the last of the candles began to flicker out, the few remaining
mourners began making plans to host a free underground party in Eddie
B.'s memory.
Though I understood half of what they were trying to explain to me, I left feeling glad that I had stopped.
I'm happy to be able share a few words about the king of underground Denver.
© Rocky Mountain News
Mr Edward "Eddie" Bennett
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Found out Sunday that an acquaintance of mine died... he was good friends with a few of my closer friends.
Found out Monday I wasn't one of the winners of the DJ competition I entered.
Found out Tuesday night after the candlelight vigil that my friend's daughter had been molested by her surrogate grandpa.
Found out my agency is resigning a bunch of business.
Found out reviews (aka possibly more money) are being pushed back until August.
Have worked a total of 39 hours already this week, still one more day to go.
Spent hours trying to get my dad's wireless up and running correctly on Sunday to no avail.
Got some otherwise disappointing news, but not quite as bad as the rest.
It's time for this week to end already.
